Khupe's decision is right

The decision that was taken by MDC-T deputy leader, Thokozani Khupe to part ways with the violent MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa, is a positive development which will highlight her potential in leading a genuine MDC T faction that adheres to the party constitution as envisioned by the founding fathers.

The split between Dr Khupe and Chamisa follows nasty power struggles that rocked the MDC-T since the death of their founding president Morgan Tsvangirai last month. Before the death of Tsvangirai, Khupe clearly noted that she was against the idea of forming an alliance with other opposition parties. However, Khupe's line of thinking was ignored, a situation which made her bitter to the extent of boycotting any political activities including meetings that were held and organised by the MDC-T leadership.

 Prior to the announcement of Khupe's split, Chamisa and the MDC-T national executive council gave her a seven day ultimatum to engage with that party's leadership and threatened that failure to do so would result in a disciplinary action taken against her. With previous events which led to the bashing of Khupe by that party's vanguard in Bulawayo and Buhera, she decided to pay no attention to Chamisa's order.

The fact that Chamisa was now leading MDC Alliance meant that Khupe was going to be a nonentity in that opposition coalition. MDC Alliance has principals from other opposition parties who include leaders from MDC-N, Transform Zimbabwe, Multiracial Christian Democrats, ZimPF, People's Democratic Party and Zanu Ndonga. The top brass of the alliance would obviously be selected from the alliance principals.

Khupe, who worked for approximately two decades under the leadership of MDC-T's late leader Tsvangirai, was supposed to carry on steering the wheel of that opposition party. The way Chamisa and other top leaders in the MDC-T treated Khupe ignited her to break away from that party. As has been proven in Khupe's case, MDC T has no respect for women politicians. If MDC-T really cared about women empowerment, allowing Khupe to lead that party was the obvious action to take. As a constitutionally elected leader and a holder of a doctorate degree, Khupe was the only ideal leader qualified to take over from where Tsvangirai left.

Khupe could have exerted her revenge with the same dosage of violence as received from the Chamisa's faction, however, as a principled leader, her resolution to peacefully leave that opposition outfit was the only proper decision left, kudos to this brave Zimbabwean woman. The MDC-T together with MDC Alliance are known for being aggressive. This could explain the reason why Chamisa is in power as a result of popularism and not constitutionalism. Surely, in this era, who would want to risk his or her life by associating with a violent political party?

Whilst addressing her followers in Bulawayo last Sunday, Khupe said, "Today, we boldly declare that we are the MDC and always shall remain the MDC that believes in not only respecting but also strictly upholding the party constitution as well as culture. Going forward, we hereby immediately dissociate ourselves from members of the MDC who are resorting to the use of wanton violence, intimidation and thuggery as tools for political mobilisation."

After announcing her split, Khupe said she would soon join a coalition with like-minded political parties. As a democrat, Khupe is free to partner with any political party. Most people in Matabeleland are in support of Khupe and her decision to kiss Chamisa and his faction goodbye will enable her to gain more relevance in that region. Chamisa knew quite well that the Matabeleland region backs Khupe, hence his persistence in trying to mend broken relations over dialogue.